Soybean cultivar AR0902031

ABSTRACT

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety AR0902031, its seed, its progeny and their cell, and methods of making AR0902031.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit under Title 35, United States Code 119(a) of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,762,116 filed Dec. 23, 2011.

THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar AR0902031, its seed, its progeny and their cells, use of the soybean cultivar AR0902031, its seed, its progeny and their cells, and methods of making AR0902031.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Soybean Glycine max (L) is an important oil seed crop and a valuable field crop. However, it began as a wild plant. This plant and a number of other plants have been developed into valuable agricultural crops through years of breeding and development. The pace of the development of soybeans, into an animal foodstuff and as an oil seed has dramatically increased in the last one hundred years. Planned programs of soybean breeding have increased the growth, yield and environmental hardiness of the soybean germplasm.

Due to the sexual reproduction traits of the soybean, the plant is basically self-pollinating. A self-pollinating plant permits pollen from one flower to be transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant. Cross-pollination occurs when the flower is pollinated with pollen from a different plant; however, soybean cross-pollination is a rare occurrence in nature.

Thus the growth and development of new soybean germplasm requires intervention by the breeder into the pollination of the soybean. The breeders' methods of intervening depend on the type of trait that is being bred. Soybeans are developed for a number of different types of traits morphological (form and structure), phenotypical, or for traits like growth, day length, temperature requirements, initiation date of floral or reproductive development, fatty acid content, insect resistance, disease resistance, nematode resistance, fungal resistance, herbicide resistance, tolerance to various environmental factors like drought, heat, wet, cold, wind, adverse soil condition and also for yield. The genetic complexity of the trait often drives the selection of the breeding method.

Due to the number of genes within each chromosome, millions of genetic combinations exist in the breeders' experimental soybean material. This genetic diversity is so vast that a breeder cannot produce the same two cultivars twice using the exact same starting parental material. Thus, developing a single variety of useful commercial soybean germplasm is highly unpredictable, and requires intensive research and development.

The development of new soybeans comes through breeding techniques, such as: recurrent selection, mass selections, backcrossing, single seed descent and multiple seed procedure. Additionally, marker assisted breeding allows more accurate movement of desired alleles or even specific genes or sections of chromosomes to be moved within the germplasm that the breeder is developing. RFLP, RAPD, AFLP, SSR, SNP, SCAR, isozymes, are some of the forms of markers that can be employed in breeding soybeans or in moving traits into soybean germplasm. Other breeding methods are known and are described in various plant breeding or soybean textbooks.

When a soybean variety is being employed to develop a new soybean variety or an improved variety the selection methods may include backcrossing, pedigree breeding, recurrent selection, marker assisted selection, modified selection and mass selection or a combination of these methods. The efficiency of the breeding procedure along with the goal of the breeding are the factors for determining which selection techniques are employed. A breeder continuously evaluates the success of the breeding program and therefore the efficiency of any breeding procedures. The success is usually measured by yield increase, commercial appeal and environmental adaptability of the developed germplasm.

The development of new soybean cultivars most often requires the development of hybrid crosses (some exceptions being initial development of mutants directly through the use of the mutating agent, certain materials introgressed by markers, or transformants made directly through transformation methods) and the selection of progeny. Hybrids can be achieved by manual manipulation of the sexual organs of the soybean or by the use of male sterility systems. Breeders often try to identify true hybrids by a readily identifiable trait or the visual differences between inbred and hybrid material. These heterozygous hybrids are then selected and repeatedly selfed and reselected to form new homozygous soybean lines.

Mass and recurrent selection can be used to improve populations. Several parents are intercrossed and plants are selected based on selected characteristics like superior yield or excellent progeny resistance. Outcrossing to a number of different parents creates fairly heterozygous breeding populations.

Pedigree breeding is commonly used with two parents that possess favorable, complementary traits. The parents are crossed to form a F1 hybrid. The progeny of the F1 hybrid is selected and the best individual F2s are selected; this selection process is repeated in the F3 and F4 generations. The inbreeding is carried forward and at approximately F5-F9 the best lines are selected and tested in the development stage for potential usefulness in a selected geographic area.

In backcross breeding a genetic allele or loci is often transferred into a desirable homozygous recurrent parent. The trait from the donor parent is tracked into the recurrent parent. The resultant plant is bred to be like the recurrent parent with the new desired allele or loci.

The single-seed descent method involves use of a segregating plant population for harvest of one seed per plant. Each seed sample is planted and the next generation is formed. When the F2 lines are advanced to approximately F6 or so, each plant will be derived from a different F2. The population will decline due to failure of some seeds, so not all F2 plants will be represented in the progeny.

New varieties must be tested thoroughly to compare their development with commercially available soybeans. This testing usually requires at least two years and up to six years of comparisons with other commercial soybeans. Varieties that lack the entire desirable package of traits can be used as parents in new populations for further selection or are simply discarded. The breeding and associated testing process is 8 to 12 years' of work prior to development of a new variety. Thousands of varietal lines are produced but only a few lines are selected in each step of the process. Thus the breeding system is like a funnel with numerous lines and selections in the first few years and fewer and fewer lines in the middle years until one line is selected for the final development testing.

The selected line or variety will be evaluated for its growth, development and yield. These traits of a soybean are a result of the variety's genetic potential interacting with its environment. All varieties have a maximum yield potential that is predetermined by its genetics. This hypothetical potential for yield is only obtained when the environmental conditions are near perfect. Since perfect growth conditions do not exist, field experimentation is necessary to provide the environmental influence and to measure its effect on the development and yield of the soybean. The breeder attempts to select for an elevated soybean yield potential under a number of different environmental conditions.

Selecting for good soybean yield potential in different environmental conditions is a process that requires planning based on the analysis of data in a number of seasons. Identification of the varieties carrying a superior combination of traits, which will give consistent yield potential, is a complex science. The desirable genotypic traits in the variety can often be masked by other plant traits, unusual weather patterns, diseases, and insect damage. One widely employed method of identifying a superior plant with such genotypic traits is to observe its performance relative to commercial and experimental plants in replicated studies. These types of studies give more certainty to the genetic potential and usefulness of the plant across a number of environments.

In summary, the goal of the soybean plant breeder is to produce new and unique soybeans and progeny of the soybeans for farmers' commercial crop production. To accomplish this, the plant breeder painstakingly crosses two or more varieties or germplasm. Then the results of this cross are repeatedly selfed or backcrossed to produce new genetic patterns. Newer avenues for producing new and unique genetic alleles in soybeans include introducing (or creating) mutations or transgenes into the genetic material of the soybean are now in practice in the breeding industry. These genetic alleles can alter pest resistance such as disease resistance, insect resistance, nematode resistance, herbicide resistance, or they can alter the plant's environmental tolerances, or its seeds' fatty acid compositions, the amount of oil produced, and/or the amino acid/protein compositions of the soybean plant or its seed.

The traits a breeder selects for when developing new soybeans are driven by the ultimate goal of the end user of the product. Thus if the goal of the end user is to resist a certain plant disease so overall more yield is achieved, then the breeder drives the introduction of genetic alleles and their selection based on disease resistant levels shown by the plant. On the other hand, if the goal is to produce specific fatty acid composition, with for example a high level of oleic acid and/or a lower level of linolenic acid, then the breeder may drive the selection of genetic alleles/genes based on inclusion of mutations or transgenes that alter the levels of fatty acids in the seed. Reaching this goal may allow for the acceptance of some lesser yield potential or other less desirable agronomic trait.

The new genetic alleles being introduced in to soybeans are widening the potential uses and markets for the various products and by-products of the oil from the seed plants such as soybean. A major product extracted from soybeans is the oil in the seed. Soybean oil is employed in a number of retail products such as cooking oil, baked goods, margarines and the like. Another useful product is soybean meal, which is a component of many foods and animal feedstuffs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention relates to a cell of a soybean plant designated variety AR0902031, representative seed of the soybean variety having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a cell of a soybean plant, wherein the soybean plant is produced by growing seed of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a cell of (i) a soybean plant or (ii) a soybean seed wherein the plant or seed is a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, wherein the descendant expresses the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under substantially similar environmental conditions, and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a cell of (i) a soybean plant or (ii) a soybean seed wherein the plant or seed is a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, wherein the descendant is derived from soybean variety AR0902031, and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a cell of a plant tissue culture produced from protoplasts or regenerable cells from a soybean plant as described above.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a cell of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, wherein the descendant is homozygous for all of its alleles and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a cell of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031 and expresses the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under substantially similar environmental conditions, and wherein the descendant comprises a transgene.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a cell of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is derived from soybean variety AR0902031 and is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031 and comprises a transgene.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, to breed a soybean plant.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031 and the descendant expresses the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under substantially similar environmental conditions, to breed a soybean plant.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is derived from soybean variety AR0902031 and is produced by self-pollinating AR0902031, to breed a soybean plant.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of soybean variety AR0902031, wherein representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 has been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, as a recipient of a conversion locus.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031 and the descendant expresses the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under substantially similar environmental conditions, as a recipient of a conversion locus.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is derived from soybean variety AR0902031 and is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031, as a recipient of a conversion locus.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, to cross with another soybean plant.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031 and the descendant expresses the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under substantially similar environmental conditions, to cross with another soybean plant.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is derived from soybean variety AR0902031 and is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031, to cross with another soybean plant.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, as a recipient of a transgene.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031 and the descendant expresses the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under substantially similar environmental conditions, as a recipient of a transgene.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is derived from soybean variety AR0902031 and is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031, as a recipient of a transgene.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, for producing soybean protein, soybean hulls, soybean meal, soybean flour, or soybean oil.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031 and the descendant expresses the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under substantially similar environmental conditions, for producing soybean protein, soybean hulls, soybean meal, soybean flour, or soybean oil.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is derived from soybean variety AR0902031 and is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031, for producing soybean protein, soybean hulls, soybean meal, soybean flour, or soybean oil.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of soybean variety AR0902031, wherein representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 has been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, to grow a crop.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating AR0902031 and the descendant expresses the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under substantially similar environmental conditions, to grow a crop.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is derived from soybean variety AR0902031 and is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031, to grow a crop.

Another aspect of the invention relates to crushed non-viable soybean seed of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278.

Another aspect of the invention relates to crushed non-viable soybean seed of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031 and the descendant expresses the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under substantially similar environmental conditions.

Another aspect of the invention relates to crushed non-viable soybean seed of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number AR0902031, and wherein the descendant is derived from soybean variety AR0902031 and is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, to produce a genetic marker profile.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031 and the descendant expresses the physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown under substantially similar environmental conditions, to produce a genetic marker profile.

Another aspect of the invention relates to use of a descendant of soybean variety AR0902031, representative seed of soybean variety AR0902031 having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278, and wherein the descendant is derived from soybean variety AR0902031 and is produced by self-pollinating soybean variety AR0902031, to produce a genetic marker profile.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the Geographic Segment Chart—GSEGC shows the breakout for grain yield at standard moisture for AR0902031 across geographic locations.

FIG. 2 shows the Group Mean chart (GRP_MN=Group Mean) of Grain Yield at standard moisture for AR0902031. This chart shows Yield Stability-Win>5% of trial mean, Tie + or −5% of trial mean, Losses <5% of trial mean. The chart's vertical axis=yield of target variety, its horizontal axis=location average yield. When the target variety line is above the location average line this is desirable. The RSQ of the target variety shows a number. This number when it is closest to 1=yield stability.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following data is used to describe and enable the present soybean invention.

TRAIT ABBREVIATIONS TRAIT NAME DESCRIPTION RRG_T MC RR Gene Present RRG_T Glyphosate Resistant Gene Present (Yes or No) STS_T MC Sulfonylurea Tolerant Soybean F Sulfonylurea Tolerant Soybean (Yes or No) FL_CT MC Flower Color FL_CT Flower Color - P = Purple, W = White or Segregating = Mixture of colors PB_CT MC Pubescence Color PB_CT Pubescence Color - G = Gray, T = Tawny, Lt = Light Tawny, Segregating = Mixture of Colors PD_CT MC Pod Color PD_CT Pod Color - T = Tawny, B = Brown, Segregating = Mix of Colors HILCT Hilum Color HILCT Hilum Color - G = Gray, BR = Brown, BF = Buff, BL = Black, IB = Imperfect Black, Y = Yellow, IY = Imperfect Yellow, Segregating = Mixture of Colors PRTNP Protein Percent PRTNP Protein Percent @ 13% Moisture OIL_P Oil Percent OIL_P Oil Percent @ 13% Moisture SBSSN Seed Size (Number of Seeds per LB) Seed Size (Number of Seeds per pound) SBSSN STMTR Stem Termination STMTR Stem Termination 1 = Determinate 2 = Indeterminate 3 = Semi-Determinate 9 = Segregation RPS_T PRR GENE RPS_T Phytophthora Root Rot GENE, 1C, 1K, No Gene, etc. CN1_P SCN Race 1 Female Index % SCN Race 1 Female Index % CN3_P SCN Race 3 Female Index % SCN Race 3 Female Index % CN5_P SCN Race 5 Female Index % SCN Race 5 Female Index % CN14P SCN Race 14 Female Index % SCN Race 14 Female Index % SN_T MC SCN Resistance source SN_T Soybean Nematode Resistance Source MI_R Root Knot Incognita MI_R Root Knot Incognita 1-9 (1 = best) MA_R Root Knot Arenaria MA_R Root Knot Arenaria 1-9 (1 = best) DPM_R Stem Canker (Southern) DPM_R Stem Canker (Southern) Rating 1-9 (1 = best) DPMTR Stem Canker (South) Tolerance Stem Canker (Southern) Tolerance Rating 1-9 (1 = best) DPMTR CLS_T Chloride Sensitivity Chloride Sensitivity Text Excluder = Accumulates Chloride and restricts the Chloride in the roots, Includer = Accumulates Chloride throughout the plant VHNO Variety/Hybrid Number A code designating a particular variety YGSMN Grain Yield at Std MST - YGSMN Grain Yield at Standard Moisture MRTYN Maturity Days from planting MRTYN Maturity - Number of days from planting date until the cultivar has reached its maturity. HLDGR Harvest Lodging HLDGR Harvest Lodging 1 = All erect; 5 = 45 degrees; 9 = flat PLHTN Plant Height (cm) Plant Height in centimeters GLDGR Green Lodging GLDGR Green Lodging Rating R5 to R6 1 = All erect, 5 = 45 degree, 9 = flat PLCNR Plant Canopy Rating PLCNR Plant Canopy Rating 1 = No branching, 5 = Average, 9 = Profuse PLBRR Plant Branching PLBRR Plant Branching Rating 1 = No branching, 5 = Average, 9 = Profuse PRR_R Phytophthora Root Rot Tolerance Phytophthora Root Rot Field Tolerance Rating 1-9 (1 = best) for field tolerance PRR_R BSR_R Brown Stem Rot BSR_R Brown Stem Rot Rating 1-9 (1 = best) EMRGR Emergence EMRGR Emergence 1-9 (1 = best) EPA_R Early Plot Appearance EPA_R Early Plot Appearance - emergence, evenness of stand V2-V6 FELSR Frogeye Leaf Spot FELSR Frogeye Leaf Spot Rating 1-9 (1 = best) GMSTP Moisture % (Field) MST_P Moisture % (Field) GS_R Green Stem GS_R Green Stem Rating 1-9 (1 = best) HVAPR Harvest Appearance HVAPR Overall Harvest Appearance 1 = Excellent; 5 = Average; 9 = Poor IC_R Iron Chlorosis IC_R Iron Chlorosis Rating or Calculated from Flash & Recovery Mean 1-9 (1 = best) ICFLR Iron Chlorosis Yellow Flash Rate Iron Chlorosis Yellow Flash Rating 1-9 (1 = best) ICFLR ICR_R Iron Chlorosis Recovery ICR_R Iron Chlorosis Recovery Rating 1-9 (1 = best) SDS_R Sudden Death Syndrome SDS_R Sudden Death Syndrome Rating 1-9 (1 = best) STR_R Shattering STR_R Shattering 1-9 (1 = best) TESTP Test % TESTP The Mean Yield of the variety, expressed as a percentage of the Mean Yield of all varieties in the trial.

DEFINITIONS

Hypocotyl Length (Hyp_R) A rating of a variety's hypocotyl extension after germination when planted at a 5″ depth in sand and maintained in a warm germination environment for 10 days.

Seedling Establishment (EMRGR) A rating of uniform establishment and growth of seedlings. Rating is taken between the V1 and V3 growth stages and is a 1 to 9 rating with 1 being the best stand establishment.

Seed Coat Peroxidase (Perox)—seed protein peroxidase activity is a chemical taxonomic technique to separate cultivars based on the presence or absence of the peroxidase enzyme in the seed coat. Ratings are POS=positive for peroxidase enzyme or NEG=negative for peroxidase enzyme.

Plant Height (PLHTN) The average measured plant height, in centimeters, of 5 uniform plants per plot, taken just prior to harvest.

Plant Branching (PLBRR) Rating of the number of branches and their relative importance to yield. This rating is taken at growth expressive locations. 1=no branching, 5=average and 9=profuse. Ratings taken just prior to harvest.

Green Lodging (GLDGR) Rating based on the average of plants leaning from vertical at the R5 to R6 growth stage. 1=all are erect, 5=average erectness. 9=all are flat. Rating of one is the best rating.

Harvest Lodging (HLDGR) Rating based on the average of plants leaning from vertical at harvest. Lodging score (1=completely upright, 5=45 degree angle from upright; 9=completely prostrate). Rating one is the best rating and ratings are taken just prior to harvest.

Phytophthora Root Rot (PRR_R) means a Phytophthora Root Rot field tolerance rating. Rating is 1-9 with one being the best. The information can also include the listing of the actual resistance gene (RPS_T), for example, Rps gene 1C.

Root Knot Nematode (RKN) Greenhouse screen—45 day screen of roots inoculated with eggs and juveniles. Rating Scale based upon female reproduction index on a susceptible check set determined by number of galls present on the root mass. Rating scale is 1-9 with 1 being best. Species specific ratings: Arenaria (MA_R), Incognita (MI_R), Javanica (MJ_R).

Stem Canker (Southern) (DPM_R) Greenhouse screen to identify vertical (gene) type of resistance. One week old soybean seedlings are inoculated with the stem canker pathogen by opening up a small slit into the hypocotyl and depositing a small drop of the fungal suspension. The inoculated seedlings are then placed into a moisture chamber. When the seedlings of the known checks have collapsed, disease severity rating are given on a 1-9 score. One being the best.

Stem canker (Southern) tolerance (DPMTR) Field nursery. The objective of this test is to evaluate the Field Resistance/Tolerance of soybean lines under field conditions. This is necessary due to the fact that of the four known genes that convey vertical type of resistance to stem canker, one gene (Rdc4 from the variety Dowling), exhibits a 40-50% plant kill (false positive) when screened in the greenhouse using the hypocotyl inoculation technique. Lines that scored a rating of 4-9 in the greenhouse are planted in the field. They are sprayed at least 5 times during their first month of development with a spore suspension containing the stem canker fungus. With the inclusion of very susceptible stem canker checks, we are able to identify horizontal (field resistance/tolerance) resistance in certain lines. Quite often, lines scoring a 9 in the greenhouse, rate a score of 1 in the field due to either having the Rdc4 gene or having good field resistance/tolerance. Disease severity scores are once again given on a 1-9 scale when the plants have reached the R6 growth stage of plant development. One being the best.

Brown Stem Rot (BSR_R) This disease is caused by the fungus Phialophora gregata. The disease is a late-season, cool-temperature, soil borne fungus which in appropriate favorable weather can cause up to 30 percent yield losses in soybean fields. BSR_R is an opportunistic field rating. The scale is 1-9. One rating is best.

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS_R) This disease is caused by slow-growing strains of Fursarium solani that produce bluish pigments in the central part of the culture when produced on a PDA culture. The disease appears mainly in the reproductive growth stages (R2-R6) of soybeans. Normal diagnostics are distinctive scattered, intervienal chlorotic spots on the leaves. Yield losses may be total or severe in infected fields. The Sudden Death Syndrome Rating is both a field nursery and an opportunistic field rating. It is based on leaf area affected as defined by the Southern Illinois University method of SDS scoring. The scale used for these tests is 1-9. A one rating is best.

Sclerotinia White Mold (SCL_R) This disease is caused by the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotium. The fungus can overwinter in the soil for many years as sclerotia and infect plants in prolonged periods of high humidity or rainfall. Yield losses may be total or severe in infected fields. Sclerotinia White Mold (SCL_R) rating is a field rating (1-9 scale) based on the percentage of wilting or dead plants in a plot. A one rating is the best.

Frog Eye Leaf Spot (FELSR) This is caused by the fungal pathogen Cercospora sojina. The fungus survives as mycelium in infected seeds and in infested debris. With adequate moisture new leaves become infected as they develop until all the leaves are infected. Yield losses may be up to 15% in severe infected fields. Frog Eye Leaf Spot (FELSR) rating is a field rating (1-9 scale) based on the percentage of leaf area affected. The scale is 1-9 where 1=no leaf symptoms and 9=severe leaf symptoms. One is the best rating. To test varieties for Frog Eye Leaf Spot a disease nursery is artificially inoculated with spores. The ratings are done when the plants have reached the R5-R6 growth stage. Visual calibration is done with leaf photos of different frogeye severity ratings as used by the University of Tennessee and Dr. Melvin Newman, State Plant Pathologist for TN.

Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) The Soybean Cyst Nematode Heterodera glycines, is a small plant-parasitic roundworm that attacks the roots of soybeans. Soybean Cyst Nematode Ratings are taken from a 30 day greenhouse screen using cyst infested soil. The rating scale is based upon female reproduction index (FI %) on a susceptible check set ((female reproduction on a specific line/female reproduction on Susceptible check)*100) where <10%=R (RESISTANT); >10%-<30%=MR (MODERATELY RESISTANT); >30%-<60%=MS (MODERATELY SUSPECTIBLE); >60%=S (SUSPECTIBLE). The screening races include: 1, 3, 5, 14. Individual ratings CN1_P, CN3_P, CN5_P, and CN14_P refer to the resistance to SCN races 1, 3, 5 and 14 FI % respectively.

Maturity Days from Planting (MRTYN) Plants are considered mature when 95% of the pods have reached their mature color. MRTYN is the number of days calculated from planting date to 95% mature pod color.

Relative Maturity Group (RM) Industry Standard for varieties groups, based on day length or latitude. Long day length (northern areas in the Northern Hemisphere) are classified as (Groups 000,00,0). Mid day lengths variety groups lie in the middle group (Groups I-VI). Very short day lengths variety groups (southern areas in Northern Hemisphere) are classified as (Groups VII, VIII, IX).

Grain Yield at Standard Moisture (YGSMN) The actual grain yield at standard moisture (13%) reported in the unit's bushels/acre.

Shattering (STR_R) The rate of pod dehiscence prior to harvest. Pod dehiscence is the process of beans dropping out of the pods. Advanced varieties are planted in a replicated nursery south of their adapted zone to promote early senescence. Mature plots are allowed to stand in the field to endure heat/cool and especially wet/dry cycles. Rating is based on the differences between varieties of the amount of open pods and soybeans that have fallen on the ground. The rating scale is 1-9 with 1=no shattering and 9=severe shattering. One rating is best.

Yield Test Percentage (TESTP) The mean yield of the subject variety expressed as a percentage of the mean yield of all varieties in the trial.

Plant Parts Means the embryos, anthers, pollen, nodes, roots, root tips, flowers, petals, pistols, seeds, pods, leaves, stems, meristematic cells and other cells (but only to the extent the genetic makeup of the cell has both paternal and maternal material) and the like.

Palmitic Acid Means a fatty acid, C₁₅H₃₁COOH, occurring in soybean. This is one of the five principal fatty acids of soybean oil.

Linolenic Acid Means an unsaturated fatty acid, C₁₇H₂₉COOH, occurring in soybean. This is one of the five principal fatty acids of soybean oil.

Stearic Acid Means a colorless, odorless, waxlike fatty acid, CH₃(CH₂)₁₆COOH, occurring in soybean. This is one of the five principal fatty acids of soybean oil.

Oleic Acid Means an oily liquid fatty acid, C₁₇H₃₃COOH, occurring in soybean. This is one of the five principal fatty acids of soybean oil.

Linoleic Acid Means an unsaturated fatty acid, C₁₇H₃₁COOH, occurring in soybean. This is one of the five principal fatty acids of soybean oil.

Plant Means the plant, in any of its stages of life including the seed or the embryo, the cotyledon, the plantlet, the immature or the mature plant, the plant parts, plant protoplasts, plant cells of tissue culture from which soybean plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells (but only to the extent the genetic makeup of the cell has both paternal and maternal material) that are intact in plants or parts of the plants, such as pollen, anther, nodes, roots, flowers, seeds, pods, leaves, stems, petals and the like.

Bud Blight (virus—tobacco ringspot virus): A virus disease of soybeans, symptoms form a curled brown crook out of the terminal bud of plants.

Soybean Mosaic (virus): This soybean virus appears as a yellow vein on infected plants. This virus will show in the veins of developing leaves. Leaves look narrow and have puckered margins. Infection results in less seed formed in odd shaped pods. The virus is vectored by aphids.

Bean Pod Mottle Virus (virus): The bean leaf beetle vectored virus. This virus causes a yellow-green mottling of the leaf particularly in cool weather.

Target Spot (fungus—Alternaria sp.): This fungus infects leaves, also shows spots on pods and stems.

Anthracnose (fungus—Colletotrichum dematium var. truncatum): This fungus infects stems, petioles and pods of almost mature plants.

Brown Leaf Spot (fungus—Septoria glycines): Early foliar disease on soybeans in springtime.

Downy Mildew (fungus—Peronospora manshurica): Fungus appears on the topside of the leaf. The fungus appears as indefinite yellowish-green areas on the leaf.

Purple Seed Stain (fungus—Cercospora kikuchii): This fungus is on the mature soybean seed coat and appears as a pink or light to dark purple discoloration.

Seed Decay and Seedling Diseases (fungi—Pythium sp., Phytophthora sp., Rhizoctonia sp., Diaporthe sp.): When damage or pathology causes reduced seed quality, then the soybean seedlings are often predisposed to these disease organisms.

Bacterial Blight (bacterium—Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea): A soybean disease that appears on young soybean plants.

Charcoal Rot (fungus—Macrophomina phaseolina): Charcoal rot is a sandy soil, mid-summer soybean disease.

Rhizobium-Induced Chlorosis: A chlorosis appearing as light green to white which appears 6-8 weeks during rapid plant growth.

Bacterial Pustule (bacterium—Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli): This is usually a soybean leaf disease; however, the disease from the leaves may infect pods.

Cotton Root Rot (fungus—Phymatotrichum omnivorum): This summertime fungus causes plants to die suddenly.

Pod and Stem Blight (fungus—Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae): The fungus attacks the maturing pod and stem and kills the plant.

Treated Seed means the seed of the present invention with a pesticidal composition. Pesticidal compositions include but are not limited to material that are insecticidal, fungicidal, detrimental to pathogens, or sometimes herbicidal.

Variety: This term is used interchangeably with the term “cultivar” or “line”.

Resistance: This term is used interchangeably with the term “tolerance”.

Definitions of Staging of Development

The plant development staging system employed in the testing of this invention divides stages as vegetative (V) and reproductive (R). This system accurately identifies the stages of any soybean plant. However, all plants in a given field will not be in the stage at the same time. Therefore, each specific V or R stage is defined as existing when 50% or more of the plants in the field are in or beyond that stage.

The first two stages of V are designated a VE (emergence) and VC (cotyledon stage). Subdivisions of the V stages are then designated numerically as V1, V2, V3 through V (n). The last V stage is designated as V (n), where (n) represents the number for the last node stage of the specific variety. The (n) will vary with variety and environment. The eight subdivisions of the reproductive stages (R) states are also designated numerically. R1=beginning bloom; R2=full bloom; R3=beginning pod; R4=full pod; R5=beginning seed; R6=full seed; R7=beginning maturity; R8=full maturity.

Soybean Cultivar AR0902031

The present invention comprises a soybean plant, its progeny, its seed or their cells characterized by molecular and physiological data obtained from the representative sample of said variety deposited with the American Type Culture Collection. Additionally, the present invention comprises a soybean plant, its progeny, its seed or their cells comprising the homozygous alleles of the variety, formed by the combination of the disclosed soybean plant or plant cell with another soybean plant or cell, or by self-pollination.

The invention is a novel soybean variety designated AR0902031 has a relative maturity of 2.0 with high yield potential. Specific area where best adaptation occurs includes the U.S. Midwest and southern Ontario, Canada and where other late Maturity Group I and early Maturity Group II soybeans are grown. The present invention AR0902031 is employed in a number of plot repetitions to establish trait characteristics.

The present invention AR0902031 has an RM of 2.0, to be sold commercially where other early group 2 soybean varieties are grown. Yield performance is good, as demonstrated in FIG. 1. AR0902031 performs well in both low yielding environments and higher yielding environments, as demonstrated in FIG. 2. Traits of the invention are listed in Table 1, 2 and 3.

The soybean variety AR0902031 can be developed using both traditional plant breeding technologies, e.g., backcrossing, and genetic engineering technologies, e.g., marker assisted selection. The cultivar was developed through a crossing of S25-T5 and S19-K8. Both S25-T5 and S19-K8 are conventional varieties developed and marketed by Syngenta in Canada. The cross was made in a winter nursery in South America. F1 of the cross was grown in a winter nursery in Hawaii, and allowed to self pollinate to produce F2 seeds. F2 was planted in a winter nursery in Hawaii, and a modified single seed descent breeding was employed to advance generations. F2 and F3 were grown in a winter nursery in Hawaii. F4 was grown in Arva, Ontario, and individual plants were selected. The selected individual plants were grown in a single replicate yield trial in Arva, Ontario. One of the selections was advanced and identified as AR0902031. AR0902031 (F6-F9) has been tested in Canada and the United States.

The soybean variety AR0902031 is substantially homozygous and can be reproduced by techniques known in the art. The soybean variety AR0902031 or its seed or their cell, a soybean plant produced from or using the variety AR0902031, its seed or their cell, can be used to develop a new soybean variety.

This soybean variety AR0902031, its seed or their cell in one embodiment carries one or more transgenes, for example, the glyphosate tolerance transgene, a desaturase gene or other transgenes. In another embodiment of the invention, the soybean variety AR0902031, its seed or their cell does not carry any herbicide resistance traits. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the soybean variety AR0902031, its seed or their cell does not carry any transgenes but carries alleles for aphid resistance, cyst nematode resistance and/or brown stem rot or the like.

The present invention provides methods and composition relating to plants, seeds and derivatives of the soybean cultivar AR0902031. Soybean cultivar AR0902031 has superior characteristics. The AR0902031 line has been selfed sufficient number of generations to provide a stable and uniform plant variety.

Cultivar AR0902031 shows no variants other than expected due to environment or that normally would occur for almost any characteristic during the course of repeated sexual reproduction. Some of the criteria used to select in various generations include: seed yield, emergence, appearance, disease tolerance, maturity, plant height, and shattering data.

The inventor believes that AR0902031 is similar in relative maturity to the comparison varieties. However, as shown in the figures and tables, AR0902031 differs from these cultivars.

Direct comparisons were made between AR0902031 and the listed commercial varieties. Traits measured may include yield, maturity, lodging, plant height, branching, field emergence, and shatter. The results of the comparison are presented in Table 2. The number of tests in which the varieties were compared is shown with the environments, mean and standard deviation for some traits.

The present invention AR0902031, its seed and their cell can carry genetic engineered recombinant genetic material to give improved traits or qualities to the soybean. For example, but not limited to, the present invention can carry the glyphosate resistance gene for herbicide resistance as taught in the Monsanto patents (WO92/00377, WO92/04449, U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,642 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,910) or STS mutation for herbicide resistance. Additional traits carried in transgenes or mutation can be transferred into the present invention. Some of these genes include genes that give disease resistance to sclerotinia such as the oxalate oxidase (Ox Ox) gene as taught in PCT/FR92/00195 Rhone Polunc and/or an oxalate decarboxylase gene for disease resistance or genes designed to alter the soybean oil within the seed such as desaturase, thioesterase genes (shown in EP0472722, U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,771) or genes designed to alter the soybean's amino acid characteristics. This line can be crossed with another soybean line which carries a gene that acts to provide herbicide resistance or alter the saturated and/or unsaturated fatty acid content of the oil within the seed, or the amino acid profile of the seed.

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a new soybean plant by crossing a first parent plant with a second parent plant wherein the first or second parent plant is the present invention. Additionally, the present invention may be used in the variety development process to derive progeny in a breeding population or crossing. Further, both first and second parent plants can be or are derived from the soybean line AR0902031. A variety of breeding methods can be selected depending on the mode of reproduction, the trait, the condition of the germplasm. Thus, any such methods using the AR0902031 are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, recurrent selection, mass selection and the like.

This invention is also directed to use of the soybean variety AR0902031, its progeny, their seed and their cell. In an embodiment, the soybean variety or its progeny can be used to produce its seeds, to breed a soybean plant, to grow a crop or to cross it with other soybean lines. The methods for producing seeds, breeding plants, growing plants or crossing plants are well known in the art. In another embodiment, the soybean variety can be used to produce edible material including, but not limited to, protein concentrate, a protein isolate, soybean hulls, soybean meal, soybean flour or soybean oil.

The scope of the present invention includes use of marker methods. In addition to phenotypic observations, the genotype of a plant can also be examined. There are many techniques or methods known which are available for the analysis, comparison and characterization of plant's genotype and for understanding the pedigree of the present invention and identifying plants that have the present invention as an ancestor; among these are Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), and Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred to as Microsatellites.

A backcross conversion, transgene, or genetic sterility factor, may be in an embodiment of the present invention. Markers can be useful in their development, such that the present invention comprising backcross conversion(s), transgene(s), or genetic sterility factor(s), and are identified by having a molecular marker profile with a high percent identity such as 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5% or 99.9% identical to the present invention.

These embodiments may be detected using measurements by either percent identity or percent similarity to the deposited material. These markers may detect progeny plants identifiable by having a molecular marker profile of at least 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 99.5% genetic contribution from an embodiment of the present soybean variety. Such progeny may be further characterized as being within a pedigree distance of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 or more cross-pollinations to a soybean plant other than the present invention or a plant that has the present invention as a progenitor. Molecular profiles may be identified with SNP, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, or other tools also.

Traits are average values for all trial locations, across all years in which the data was taken. In addition to the visual traits that are taken, the genetic characteristic of the plant can also be characterised by its genetic marker profile. The profile can interpret or predict the pedigree of the line, the relation to another variety, determine the accuracy of a listed breeding strategy, or invalidate a suggested pedigree. Soybean linkage maps were known by 1999 as evidenced in Cregan et. al, “An Integrated Genetic Linkage Map of the Soybean Genome” Crop Science 39:1464 1490 (1999); and using markers to determine pedigree claims was discussed by Berry et al., in “Assessing Probability of Ancestry Using Simple Sequence Repeat Profiles: Applications to Maize Inbred Lines and Soybean Varieties” Genetics 165:331 342 (2003). Markers include but are not limited to Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) which are also referred to as Microsatellites, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs). There are known sets of public markers that are being examined by ASTA and other industry groups for their applicability in standardizing determinations of what constitutes an essentially derived variety. However, these standard markers do not limit the type of marker and marker profile which can be employed in breeding or developing backcross conversions, or in distinguishing varieties or plant parts or plant cells, or verify a progeny pedigree. Primers and PCR protocols for assaying these and other markers are disclosed in the Soybase (sponsored by the USDA Agricultural Research Service and Iowa State University). For example, AR0902031 may be used to produce a genetic market profile, and the genetic marker profile may be used to identify the soybean variety AR0902031, its seed, their cell, and a plant produced through the use of AR0902031, its seed or their cell. The genetic marker profile may also be used to verify a pedigree or progeny plant or plant cells produced through the use of AR0902031, its seed or their cell.

Additionally, these markers such as SSRs, RFLPs, SNPs, Ests, AFLPs, gene primers, and the like can be developed and employed to identify genetic alleles which have an association with a desired trait. The allele can be used in a marker assisted breeding program to move traits (native, normative (from a different species), or transgenes) into the present invention. The value of markers includes allowing the introgression of the allele(s)/trait(s) into the desired germplasm with little to no superfluous germplasm being dragged from the allele/trait donor plant into the present invention. This results in formation of the present invention for example, cyst nematode resistance, brown stem rot resistance, aphid resistance, Phytophthora resistance, IDC resistance, BT genes, male sterility genes, glyphosate tolerance genes or drought tolerance genes. Additionally, the invention through transgenes, or if a native trait through markers or backcross breeding, can include a polynucleotide encoding phytase, FAD-2, FAD-3, galactinol synthase or a raffinose synthetic enzyme; or a polynucleotide conferring resistance to soybean cyst nematode, brown stem rot, phytophthora root rot, or sudden death syndrome or resistance, tolerance to FUNGAL DISEASES such as: Alternaria spp., Agrobacterium rhizogenes, Calonectria crotalariae, Cercospora kikuchii, Cercospora sojina, Choanephora infundibulifera, Colletotrichum spp., Corynespora cassiicola, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Dactuliochaeta glycines, Diaporthe phaseolorum, Fusarium oxysporum, Macrophomina phaseolina, Microsphaera difusa, Peronospora manshurica, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phialophora gregata, Phomopsis phaseolorum, Phyllosticta sojicola, Phytophthora sojae, Pseudomonas syringae, Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solana, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotium rolfsii, Septoria glycines, Sphaceloma glycines, Thielaviopsis basicota.; or tolerance to BACTERIAL and VIRAL DISEASES such as: Xanthomonas campestres, Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV), Peanut Mottle Virus (PMV), Tobacco Streak Virus (TSV), Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus (BYMV), Black Gram Mottle Virus (BGMV), Cowpea Mild Mottle Virus (CMMV), Cowpea Severe Mosaic Virus (CSMV), Indonesian Soybean Dwarf Virus (ISDV), Mung Bean Yellow Mosaic Virus (MYMV), Peanut Stripe Virus (VPMM), Soybean Chlorotic Mottle Virus, Soybean Crinkle Leaf Virus, Soybean Yellow Vein Virus (SYVV), Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV); NEMATODES such as: Belonolaimus gracilis, Meloidogyne spp, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Pratylenchus spp., Hoplolaimus sulumbus, Heterodera schachtii.

Many traits have been identified that are not regularly selected for in the development of a new cultivar. Using materials and methods well known to those persons skilled in the art, traits that are capable of being transferred, to cultivar of the present invention include, but are not limited to, herbicide tolerance, resistance for bacterial, fungal, or viral disease, nematode resistance, insect resistance, modified stress tolerance, enhanced nutritional quality, such as oil, starch and protein content or quality, modified nutrient deficiency tolerance, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism, improved performance in an industrial process, altered reproductive capability, such as male sterility or male/female fertility, yield stability and yield enhancement. Where the trait is herbicide tolerance/resistance, it can be, for example, tolerance to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibiting herbicides. The trait can also be herbicide resistance to a herbicide selected from the group comprising or consisting of glyphosate, sulfonylurea, imidazalinone, dicamba, glufosinate, phosphinothricin, phenoxypropionic acid, cycloshexone, triazine, benzonitrile, and bromoxynil. Other traits include the production of commercially valuable enzymes or metabolites within the present invention.

A transgene typically comprises a nucleotide sequence whose expression is responsible or contributes to the trait, under the control of a promoter capable of directing the expression of the nucleotide sequence at the desired time in the desired tissue or part of the plant. Constitutive, tissue-specific or inducible promoters are well known in the art and have different purposes and each could be employed. The transgene(s) may also comprise other regulatory elements such as for example translation enhancers or termination signals. The transgene may be adapted to be transcribed and translated into a protein, or to encode RNA in a sense or antisense orientation such that it is not translated or only partially translated. For example, the soybean variety AR0902031, its progeny, its seed or their cell can be used as a recipient of one or more transgene or locus that confers a desired trait or that prevents the expression of certain traits.

Transgenes may be directly introduced into the cultivar using genetic engineering and transformation techniques well known in the art or introduced into the cultivar through a process which uses a donor parent which has the transgene(s) already introgressed. This process of introduction of a transgene(s) or native/non-native traits into the cultivar may use the donor parent in a marker assisted trait conversion process, where the trait may be moved for example by backcrossing using the markers for selection of subsequent generations.

The laboratory-based techniques described above, in particular RFLP and SSR, can be used in such backcrosses to identify the progenies having the highest degree of genetic identity with the recurrent parent. This permits one to accelerate the production of soybean cultivars having at least 90%, 95%, 99% genetic, or genetically identical to the recurrent parent, and further comprising the trait(s) introgressed from the donor parent. Such determination of genetic identity can be based on markers used in the laboratory-based techniques described above.

The last backcross generation is then selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred. The resulting plants have essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of cultivar of the present invention, in addition to the gene trait(s) transferred to the inbred. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the trait being altered to determine an appropriate testing protocol. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when the trait being transferred is a dominant allele, a recessive allele may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessary to introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desired trait has been successfully transferred.

The cultivar of the invention can also be used for transformation where exogenous genes are introduced and expressed by the cultivar of the invention. Genetic variants created either through traditional breeding methods using cultivar of the present invention or through transformation of such cultivar by any of a number of protocols known to those of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of this invention (see e.g. Trick et al. (1997) Recent Advances in Soybean Transformation, Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology, 3:9-26).

Transformation methods are means for integrating new genetic coding sequences (transgenes) into the plant's genome by the incorporation of these sequences into a plant through man's assistance. Many dicots including soybeans can easily be transformed with Agrobacterium. Methods of introducing desired recombinant DNA molecule into plant tissue include the direct infection or co-cultivation of plant cells with Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Horsch et al., Science, 227:1229 (1985). Descriptions of Agrobacterium vector systems and methods are shown in Gruber, et al., “Vectors for Plant Transformation, in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology” in Glich et al., (Eds. pp. 89-119, CRC Press, 1993). Transformed plants obtained via protoplast transformation are also intended to be within the scope of this invention. The most common method of transformation after the use of agrobacterium is referred to as gunning or microprojectile bombardment. This process has small gold-coated particles coated with DNA (including the transgene) shot into the transformable material. Techniques for gunning DNA into cells, tissue, explants, meristems, callus, embryos, and the like are well known in the prior art.

The DNA used for transformation of these plants clearly may be circular, linear, and double or single stranded.

Some of the time the DNA is in the form of a plasmid. The plasmid may contain additional regulatory and/or targeting sequences which assist the expression or targeting of the gene in the plant. The methods of forming plasmids for transformation are known in the art. Plasmid components can include such items as: leader sequences, transit polypeptides, promoters, terminators, genes, introns, marker genes, etc. The structures of the gene orientations can be sense, antisense, partial antisense or partial sense: multiple gene copies can be used.

After the transformation of the plant material is complete, the next step is identifying the cells or material, which has been transformed. In some cases, a screenable marker is employed such as the beta-glucuronidase gene of the uidA locus of E. coli. Then, the transformed cells expressing the colored protein are selected for either regeneration or further use. In many cases, a selectable marker identifies the transformed material. The putatively transformed material is exposed to a toxic agent at varying concentrations. The cells not transformed with the selectable marker, which provides resistance to this toxic agent, die. Cells or tissues containing the resistant selectable marker generally proliferate. It has been noted that although selectable markers protect the cells from some of the toxic affects of the herbicide or antibiotic, the cells may still be slightly affected by the toxic agent by having slower growth rates. If the transformed materials are cell lines then these lines are used to regenerate plants. The cells' lines are treated to induce tissue differentiation. Methods of regeneration of plants are well known in the art. General methods of culturing plant tissues are provided for example by Maki et al. “Procedures for Introducing Foreign DNA into Plants” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology, Glich et al. (Eds. pp. 67-88 CRC Press, 1993); and by Phillips et al. “Cell-Tissue Culture and In-Vitro Manipulation” in Soybean & Soybean Improvement, 3rd Edition Sprague et al. (Eds. pp. 345-387) American Society of Agronomy Inc. et al. 1988.

The plants from the transformation process or the plants resulting from a cross using a transformed line or the progeny of such plants which carry the transgene are transgenic plants.

The genes responsible for a specific gene trait are generally inherited through the nucleus. Known exceptions are, e.g. the genes for male sterility, some of which are inherited cytoplasmically, but still act as single gene traits. Male sterile soybean germplasm for hybrid soybean production was taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,204. In a preferred embodiment, a transgene to be introgressed into the cultivar AR0902031 is integrated into the nuclear genome of the donor, non-recurrent parent or the transgene is directly transformed into the nuclear genome of cultivar AR0902031. In another embodiment of the invention, a transgene to be introgressed into cultivar AR0902031 is integrated into the plastid genome of the donor, non-recurrent parent or the transgene is directly transformed into the plastid genome of cultivar AR0902031. In a further embodiment of the invention, a plastid transgene comprises a gene that has transcribed from a single promoter, or two or more genes transcribed from a single promoter.

A non-exclusive list of traits or nucleotide sequences capable of being transferred into cultivar AR0902031, using material and methods well known to those persons skilled in the art are as follows: genetic factor(s) responsible for resistance to brown stem rot (U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,035) or resistance to cyst nematodes (U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,081); a transgene encoding an insecticidal protein, such as, for example, a crystal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis or a vegetative insecticidal protein from Bacillus cereus, such as VIP3 (see, for example, Estruch et al. Nat Biotechnol (1997) 15:137-41; a herbicide tolerance transgene whose expression renders plants tolerant to the herbicide, for example, expression of an altered acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) enzyme confers upon plants tolerance to various imidazolinone or sulfonamide herbicides (U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,373.) Other traits capable of being transformed into cultivar AR0902031 include, for example, a non-transgenic trait conferring to cultivar AR0902031 tolerance to imidazolinones or sulfonylurea herbicides; a transgene encoding a mutant acetolactate synthase (ALS) that renders plants resistant to inhibition by sulfonylurea herbicides (U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,659); a gene encoding a mutant glutamine synthetase (GS) resistant to inhibition by herbicides that are known to inhibit GS, e.g. phosphinothricin and methionine sulfoximine (U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,374); and a Streptomyces bar gene encoding a phosphinothricin acetyl transferase resulting in tolerance to the herbicide phosphinothricin or glufosinate (U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,520.)

Other genes capable of being transferred into the cultivar AR0902031 of the invention include toleration to inhibition by cyclohexanedione and aryloxyphenoxypropanoic acid herbicides (U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,602), which is conferred by an altered acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase); transgenic glyphosate tolerant plants, which tolerance is conferred by an altered 5-enolpyruvyl-3-phosphoshikimate (EPSP) synthase gene; tolerance to a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor, which is achieved by expression of a tolerant protoporphyrinogen oxidase enzyme in plants (U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,373.) Genes encoding altered protox resistant to a protox inhibitor can also be used in plant cell transformation methods. For example, plants, plant tissue or plant cells transformed with a transgene can also be transformed with a gene encoding an altered protox (See U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,904) capable of being expressed by the plant. The thus-transformed cells are transferred to medium containing the protox inhibitor wherein only the transformed cells will survive. Protox inhibitors contemplated to be particularly useful as selective agents are the diphenylethers (e.g. acifluorfen, 5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobezoic acid; its methyl ester, or oxyfluorfen, 2-chloro-1-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluorobenzene)), oxidiazoles, (e.g. oxidiazon, 3-[2,4-dichloro-5-(1-methylethoxy)phenyl]-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-(3H)-one), cyclic imides (e.g. S-23142, N-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-propargyloxyphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide; chlorophthalim, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide), phenyl pyrazoles (e.g. TNPP-ethyl, ethyl 2-[1-(2,3,4-trichlorophenyl)-4-nitropyrazolyl-5-oxy]propionate; M&B 39279), pyridine derivatives (e.g. LS 82-556), and phenopylate and its O-phenylpyrrolidino- and piperidinocarbamate analogs and bicyclic triazolones as disclosed in the International patent application WO 92/04827; EP 532146).

The method is applicable to any plant cell capable of being transformed with an altered protox-encoding gene, and can be used with any transgene of interest. Expression of the transgene and the protox gene can be driven by the same promoter functional on plant cells, or by separate promoters.

Modified inhibitor-resistant protox enzymes of the present invention are resistant to herbicides that inhibit the naturally occurring protox activity. The herbicides that inhibit protox include many different structural classes of molecules (Duke et al., Weed Sci. 39: 465 (1991); Nandihalli et al., Pesticide Biochem. Physiol. 43: 193 (1992); Matringe et al., FEBS Lett. 245: 35 (1989); Yanase and Andoh, Pesticide Biochem. Physiol. 35: 70 (1989)), including the diphenylethers {e.g. acifluorifen, 5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobezoic acid; its methyl ester; or oxyfluorfen, 2-chloro-1-(3-ethoxy-4-nitrophenoxy)-4-(trifluorobenzene)}, oxidiazoles (e.g. oxidiazon, 3-[2,4-dichloro-5-(1-methylethoxy)phenyl]-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-(3H)-one), cyclic imides (e.g. S-23142, N-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-5-propargyloxyphenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide; chlorophthalim, N-(4-chlorophenyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimide), phenyl pyrazoles (e.g. TNPP-ethyl, ethyl 2-[1-(2,3,4-trichlorophenyl)-4-nitropyrazolyl-5-oxy]propionate; M&B 39279), pyridine derivatives (e.g. LS 82-556), and phenopylate and its O-phenylpyrrolidino- and piperidinocarbamate analogs.

Direct selection may be applied where the trait acts as a dominant trait. An example of a dominant trait is herbicide tolerance. For this selection process, the progeny of the initial cross are sprayed with the herbicide prior to the backcrossing. The spraying eliminates any plant that does not have the desired herbicide tolerance characteristic, and only those plants that have the herbicide tolerance gene are used in the subsequent backcross. This process is then repeated for the additional backcross generations.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a transgene transformed or introgressed into cultivar AR0902031 comprises a gene conferring tolerance to a herbicide and at least another nucleotide sequence for another trait, such as for example, insect resistance or tolerance to another herbicide. Another gene capable of being transferred into the cultivar AR0902031 of the invention expresses thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase enzymes for modifying grain digestibility and nutrient availability (U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20030145347.)

Further reproduction of the cultivar can occur by tissue culture and regeneration. Tissue culture of various tissues of soybeans and regeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published. For example, reference may be had to Komatsuda, T. et al., “Genotype X Sucrose Interactions for Somatic Embryogenesis in Soybean,” Crop Sci. 31:333-337 (1991); Stephens, P. A. et al., “Agronomic Evaluation of Tissue-Culture-Derived Soybean Plants,” Theor. Appl. Genet. (1991) 82:633-635; Komatsuda, T. et al., “Maturation and Germination of Somatic Embryos as Affected by Sucrose and Plant Growth Regulators in Soybeans Glycine gracilis Skvortz and Glycine max (L.) Merr.,” Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 28:103-113 (1992); Dhir, S. et al., “Regeneration of Fertile Plants from Protoplasts of Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.): Genotypic Differences in Culture Response,” Plant Cell Reports (1992) 11:285-289; Pandey, P. et al., “Plant Regeneration from Leaf and Hypocotyl Explants of Glycine wightii (W. and A.) VERDC. var longicauda,” Japan J. Breed. 42:1-5 (1992); and Shetty, K., et al., “Stimulation of In Vitro Shoot Organogenesis in Glycine max (Merrill.) by Allantoin and Amides,” Plant Science 81:(1992) 245-251; as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,944, issued Jun. 18, 1991 to Collins et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,200, issued Apr. 16, 1991 to Ranch et al. Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide cells that upon growth and differentiation produce soybean plants having all or essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics of cultivar AR0902031.

The seed of soybean cultivar AR0902031 further comprising one or more specific, single gene traits, the plant produced from the seed, the hybrid soybean plant produced from the crossing of the cultivar with any other soybean plant, hybrid seed, and various parts of the hybrid soybean plant can be utilized for human food, livestock feed, and as a raw material in industry.

Soybean is the world's leading source of vegetable oil and protein meal. The oil extracted from soybeans is used for cooking oil, margarine, and salad dressings. Soybean oil is composed of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. It has a typical composition of 11% palmitic, 4% stearic, 25% oleic, 50% linoleic and 9% linolenic fatty acid content (“Economic Implications of Modified Soybean Traits Summary Report”, Iowa Soybean Promotion Board & American Soybean Association Special Report 92S, May 1990.) Changes in fatty acid composition for improved oxidative stability and nutrition are constantly sought after. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,670 Soybeans Having Low Linolenic Acid and Low Palmitic Acid Contents; U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,745 Soybeans Having Low Linolenic Acid Content and Palmitic Acid Content of at Least Eleven Percent; U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,668 Soybeans Having Low Linolenic Acid And Elevated Stearic Acid Content; U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,669 A17 Soybeans Having Low Linolenic Acid Content and Descendents; U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,369 A16 Soybeans Having Low Linolenic Acid Content and Descendents; U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,425 Soybeans Having Low Linolenic Acid Content and Method of Production; U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,844 Soybeans Capable of Forming a Vegetable Oil Having Specified Concentrations of Palmitic and Stearic Acids; U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,845 Soybeans Capable of Forming a Vegetable Oil Having a Low Saturated Fatty Acid Content; U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,535 Soybeans and Soybean Products Having Low Palmitic Acid Content; U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,029 Soybean Designated AX7017-1-3; U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,485 Soybean Designated A89-259098; U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,230 Soybean Designated AX 4663-5-4-5; U.S. Pat. No. 5,684,231 Soybean Designated A1937 NMU-85; U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,672 Soybean Designated ElginEMS-421; U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,311 Soybeans and Soybean Products Having High Palmitic Acid Content; U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,969 Soybean Vegetable Oil Having Elevated Concentrations of Both Palmitic and Stearic Acid; U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,037 Soybeans Having Elevated Contents of Saturated Fatty Acids; U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,980 Soybean Variety XB37ZA; U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,183 Soybean Variety 9253; U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,846 Elevated Palmitic Acid Production in Soybeans; U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,647 Elevated Palmitic Acid Production in Soybeans; U.S. Pat. No. 6,025,509 Elevated Palmitic Acid Production in Soybeans; U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,509 Reduced Linolenic Acid Production in Soybeans; U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,118 Soybean Vegetable Oil Possessing a Reduced Linolenic Acid Content; U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,030 Reduced Linolenic Acid Production in Soybeans). Industrial uses of soybean oil that is subjected to further processing include ingredients for paints, plastics, fibers, detergents, cosmetics, and lubricants. Soybean oil may be split, inter-esterified, sulfurized, epoxidized, polymerized, ethoxylated, or cleaved. Designing and producing soybean oil derivatives with improved functionality, oliochemistry is a rapidly growing field. The typical mixture of triglycerides is usually split and separated into pure fatty acids, which are then combined with petroleum-derived alcohols or acids, nitrogen, sulfonates, chlorine, or with fatty alcohols derived from fats and oils.

The techniques of seed treatment application are well known to those skilled in the art, and they may be used readily in the context of the present invention. The seed treating compositions can be applied to the seed as slurry, mist or a soak or other means know to those skilled in the art of seed treatment. There also may be mentioned, e.g., film coating or encapsulation. The coating processes are well known in the art, and employ, for seeds, the techniques of film coating or encapsulation, or for the other multiplication products, the techniques of immersion. Needless to say, the method of application of the compositions to the seed may be varied and is intended to include any technique that is to be used.

The term “fungicide” as utilized herein is intended to cover compounds active against phytopathogenic fungi that may belong to a very wide range of compound classes. Examples of compound classes to which the suitable fungicidally active compound may belong include both room temperature (25.degree. C.) solid and room temperature liquid fungicides such as: triazole derivatives, strobilurins, carbamates (including thio- and dithiocarbamates), benzimidazoles (thiabendazole), N-trihalomethylthio compounds (captan), substituted benzenes, carboxamides, phenylamides and phenylpyrroles, and mixtures thereof.

The present invention includes a method for preventing damage by a pest to a seed of the present invention and/or shoots and foliage of a plant grown from the seed of the present invention. Broadly the method includes treating the seed of the present invention with a pesticide. The pesticide is a composition that stops pests including insects, diseases, and the like. Broadly compositions for seed treatment can include but is not limited to any of one of the following: an insecticide, or a fungicide.

The method comprises treating an unsown seed of the present invention with neonicotinoid composition. One of these compositions is thiamethoxam. Additionally, the neonicotinoid composition can include at least one pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroid, to reduce pest damage. More specifically there is a method of seed treatment which employs thiamethoxam and at least one pyrethrin or pyrethroid are comprised within a seed coating treated on the seed of the present invention. The combination, if thiamethoxam is employed, can be coated at a rate which is greater than 200 gm/100 kg of seed. The method includes having at least one of the pyrethroids being a systemic insecticide.

The pyrethrin or synthetic pyrethroid, if employed can be selected from the group consisting of taufluvalinate, flumethrin, trans-cyfluthrin, kadethrin, bioresmethrin, tetramethrin, phenothrin, empenthrin, cyphenothrin, prallethrin, imiprothrin, allethrin and bioallethrin.

The fungicidally active compounds and/or the insecticidal active compounds are employed in a fungicidally and/or insecticidally effective amount in the composition. Mixtures of one or more of the following active compounds are usable as an active component treatment of the seed of the present invention. Examples of suitable individual compounds for use in seed treatments are listed below. Where known, the common name is used to designate the individual compounds (q.v. the Pesticide Manual, 12th edition, 2001, British Crop Protection Council).

Suitable triazole derivatives include propiconazole, difenoconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole and triticonazole. Suitable strobilurins include trifloxystrobin, azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl and picoxystrobin. Suitable carbamates include thiram. Suitable substituted benzenes include PCNB and chlorothalonil. Suitable carboxamides include carboxin. Specific phenylamides usable in the compositions and methods include metalaxyl. A specific phenylpyrrole usable in the composition is fludioxonil.

Other suitable fungicidal compounds that maybe mentioned are Benomyl (also known as Benlate), Bitertanol, Carbendazim, Capropamid, Cymoxanil, Cyprodinil, Ethirimol, Fenpiclonil, Fenpropimorph, Fluquinconazole, Flutolanil, Flutriafol, Fosetyl-aluminum, Fuberidazole, Guazatine, Hymexanol, Kasugamycin, Imazalil, Imibenconazole, Iminoctadine-triacetate, Ipconazole, Iprodione, Mancozeb, Maneb, Mepronil, Metalaxyl, Metalaxyl-M (Mefenoxam), Metconazole, Metiram, MON 65500 (Silthiopham-ISO proposed), Myclobutanil, Nuarimol, Oxadixyl, Oxine-copper, Oxolinic acid, Pefurazoate, Pencycuron, Prochloraz, Propamocarb hydrochloride, Pyroquilon, Silthiopham—see MON 65500, Tecnazene, Thifluzamide, Thiophenate-methyl, Toclofos-methyl, Triadimenol, Triazoxide and Triflumizole.

The fungicidally active compounds and/or the insecticidal active compounds are employed in a fungicidally and/or insecticidally effective amount in the composition.

Mixtures of one or more of the following active compounds also are usable as an active component treatment of the seed of the present invention.

In one seed treatment, mixtures of at least one ambient liquid fungicide (for example, a phenylamide such as R-metalaxyl) and at least one ambient solid fungicide (for example, a phenylpyrrole such as fludioxonil) could be employed. The apparatus for providing the appropriate amount of seed treatment of a specific chemical composition for a seed are well known in the seed coating industry (See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,632,819 and 5,891,246).

Soybean is not just a seed it is also used as a grain. The grain is used as a food source for both animals and humans. Soybean is widely used as a source of protein for animal feeds for poultry, swine and cattle. The soybean grain is a commodity. The soybean commodity plant products include but are not limited to protein concentrate, protein isolate, soybean hulls, meal, flower, oil and the whole soybean itself. During processing of whole soybeans, the fibrous hull is removed and the oil is extracted. The remaining soybean meal is a combination of carbohydrates and approximately 50% protein. For human consumption soybean meal is made into soybean flour that is processed to protein concentrates used for meat extenders or specialty pet foods. Production of edible protein ingredients from soybean offers a healthy less expensive replacement for animal protein in meats as well as dairy-type products.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Geographic Summary of Yield

The target variety yield is given as a percent of the trial average at all locations shown in FIG. 1 where there are three or more locations. The plots for these trials are two row 13 to 17.5 foot plots planted in 30-inch row spacing. The plants in the plots are a combination of experimental material and commercial material. There are approximately 36 lines and there are approximately 250 plants of each line with two replications in about 20-25 locations. The data shown in FIG. 1 is only charted if there are at least 3 or more locations.

The present invention differs from the mean of the comparison commercial and experimental soybean lines in that the present soybean cultivar is across numerous locations, exceeding the mean yield of the group of soybeans (GRP_MN) that were tested and displayed in this geographic segment chart (GSEGC).

The present invention AR0902031 is employed in a trial with a number of environments. The results of the grain yield at standard moisture (YGSMN) are shown in FIG. 2. The soybean cultivar evidences yield results in the Trial Location Mean. These tests allow the usefulness of the invention to be shown in light of the environmental genetic interactions.

Example 2 Soymilk/Tofu Analyses

Standard Soymilk/Tofu analyses were conducted with AR0902031 following procedures in Mullin et al., 2001, Food Research International 34:669-677, and using NIR calibrations provided by the manufacturer or developed at GPCRC. The results of the analyses are presented in Table 3.

Deposit Information

Applicants have made a deposit of at least 2500 seeds of soybean cultivar AR0902031 with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, Va. 20110 on Nov. 21, 2011 under Accession Number PTA-12278. Access to this deposit will be available during the pendency of the application to the Commissioner for Patents and persons determined by the Commissioner to be entitled thereto upon request. Upon granting of a patent on any claims in the application, the Applicants will make the deposit available to the public. The ATCC deposit will be maintained in that depository, which is a public depository, for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for the enforceable life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if it becomes nonviable during that period.

TABLE 1 Traits of AR0902031 Rps Gene Rps 1c Flower Color Purple Pubescence Color Grey Pod Color Tan Hilum Color Yellow % Protein 13% mst. 41.5 % Oil @13% mst. 20.5 SCN Race 3 Fl % Resistant SCN source PI8788

TABLE 2 Agronomic and Disease Traits Comparison VHNO YGSMN MRTYN HLDGR PLHTN TESTP AR0902031 51.8 126.9 3.5 110.0 108.2 NE0800097 55.1 136.3 2.0 103.5 116.3 S23-T5 51.2 131.0 3.1 104.0 108.3 4064827- 48.2 127.8 2.6 90.6 98.7 36 S20-G7 42.6 126.2 3.5 96.2 88.4 AR0902023 28.5 114.8 3.5 87.1 58.7

TABLE 3 Soymilk/Tofu Analysis Variety: AR0902031 Company: Syngenta Sample contains 100 g protein Crop Year: 2011 Water:protein ratio 18:1 Raw Bean Physical characteristics Composition Sample weight 270.7 g Moisture 9.8% Dry matter (DM) 241.0 g Protein 41.5% based on DM Seed Size 17.77 g/ Oil 20.5% based on DM (DM basis) 100 seed Total Free Sugars 12.7% based on DM Water Uptake Factor 2.22 g/g bean Sucrose 7.1% based on DM (as-is) Stachyose 4.9% based on DM Water Uptake Factor 2.46 g/g bean Total Carbohydrates 18.6% based on DM (DM basis) Total Isoflavones 3,080 μg/g HunterLab Color based on DM L 54.24 a 7.63 b 20.49 Whiteness Index −39.54 Soymilk Yield (Protein basis) 14.21 L/kg Composition Yield (DM basis) 5.90 L/kg Protein 4.67% (w/v) pH 6.51 Oil 3.04% (w/v) L 81.79 Total Free Sugars 1.41% (w/v) a 1.25 Solids 10.79% (w/v) b 15.18 Whiteness Index −8.35 Tofu Coagluant Glucono-δ-lactone Calcium sulphate Yield (Protein basis) 14.29 13.63 kg tofu/kg protein Yield (DM basis) 5.93 5.66 kg tofu/kg bean Solids 12.54 12.57 % (w/w) pH 6.01 6.12 L 81.17 82.31 a 1.07 0.66 b 14.27 14.48 Whiteness Index −4.39 −4.49 Compression Hardness 1.1230 0.3029 N (break) Compression Firmness 0.1941 0.0741 N/mm Penetration Hardness 0.2022 0.1150 N (break) Penetration Firmness 0.0419 0.0427 N/mm

Table 1, 2 and 3 demonstrate that soybean variety AR0902031 has its own set of traits. Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that modifications or changes may be made to the preferred embodiment of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein such that the scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. 

What is claimed:
 1. A seed of soybean variety AR0902031, wherein a representative sample of seed of said soybean variety AR0902031 has been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12278.
 2. A soybean plant, or a part thereof, grown from the seed of claim
 1. 3. A tissue culture produced from protoplasts or cells from the plant of claim
 2. 4. A soybean plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim
 3. 5. A soybean plant obtained by transforming the soybean plant, or a part thereof, of claim
 2. 6. A seed of the soybean plant according to claim
 5. 7. A method for producing a soybean seed comprising crossing soybean plants and harvesting the resultant soybean seed, wherein at least one soybean plant is the soybean plant of claim
 2. 8. A method for producing hybrid soybean seed comprising crossing the soybean plant according to claim 2 with a second different soybean plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid soybean seed.
 9. A hybrid soybean seed produced by the method of claim
 8. 10. A soybean plant, or part thereof, produced by growing said seed of claim
 9. 11. A method for developing a second soybean plant through plant breeding comprising applying plant breeding to said soybean plant, or parts thereof according to claim 10, wherein said plant breeding results in development of said second soybean plant.
 12. A method of producing a soybean plant comprising a desired trait, the method comprising introducing at least one transgene or locus conferring the desired trait into a plant of soybean variety AR0902031 according to claim
 2. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the desired trait is selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide tolerance, insect or pest resistance, disease resistance, fungal resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism, stress tolerance, and modified nutrient deficiency tolerances.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the desired trait is herbicide tolerance and the tolerance is conferred to an herbicide selected from the group consisting of glyphosate, sulfonylurea, imidazolinone, dicamba, glufosinate, phosphinothricin, phenoxypropionic acid, cyclohexanedione, triazine, benzonitrile and bromoxynil.
 15. A plant produced by the method of claim 12, wherein the plant has the desired trait.
 16. A method of producing a commodity plant product comprising obtaining the plant of claim 2 or a part thereof and producing said commodity plant product, wherein said commodity plant product comprises protein concentrate, protein isolate, soybean hulls, meal, flour or oil therefrom.
 17. A seed that produces the plant of claim
 15. 18. An insect, disease or herbicide resistant plant produced by the method of claim
 13. 19. A method of introducing a desired trait into a soybean variety derived from AR0902031 wherein the method comprises: (a) crossing a AR0902031 plant of claim 2 with a plant of another soybean variety that comprises a desired trait to produce new progeny plants, wherein the desired trait is selected from the group consisting of male sterility, disease resistance, insect resistance, nematode resistance, herbicide resistance, or a trait that can alter the plant's environmental tolerances, or its seeds' fatty acid compositions, the amount of oil produced, and/or the amino acid/protein compositions of the soybean plant or its seed; (b) selecting one or more new progeny plants that have the desired trait to produce selected progeny plants; (c) selfing selected progeny plants or crossing the selected progeny plants with the AR0902031 plants to produce late generation selected progeny plants; (d) crossing or further selecting for later generation selected progeny plants that have the desired trait and physiological and morphological characteristics of soybean variety AR0902031 to produce selected next later generation progeny plants; and optionally (e) repeating crossing or selection of later generation progeny plants to produce progeny plants that comprise the desired trait and all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of said desired trait and of soybean variety AR0902031 when grown in the same location and in the same environment.
 20. A plant produced by the method of claim 19, wherein the plant has the desired trait, and all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of said desired trait and of soybean variety AR0902031 when grown in the same location and in the same environment. 